Diving in Aruba Leeward Coast
Why dive here
Aruba Leeward Coast offers some of Aruba's richest diving, with 82+ marine species recorded in the area - including orcas, sea turtles, whale sharks, frogfish and lionfish. Water sits around 28°C.
The Leeward Coast of Aruba is where you’ll find some seriously easy diving, great for stretching out those bottom times. We love it because the west side generally keeps things calm, so you're not fighting a current and can really just drift along. Most of the famous wrecks live here, like the Antilla, which is huge and always has schools of jacks swirling around it, and the Pedernales, a shallower tanker worth exploring for its resident green morays. You’ll see plenty of bicolor damselfish flitting through the corals, and if you keep an eye on the sand flats, you might spot a bay whiff or a conchfish darting about. The reefs themselves are generally healthy, with large formations of elliptical star coral and blushing star coral. We’ve found that morning dives are usually the quietest, before the day boats really get going. It’s a great spot for beginners, but even experienced divers will appreciate the relaxed pace and sheer number of sites.
Aruba Leeward Coast Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Aruba Leeward Coast
Aruba Leeward Coast Dive Sites
41 dive sites in Aruba Leeward Coast
Airplanes (Wreck)
Airplanes Wreck on Aruba’s Leeward Coast gives us a genuine thrill. It’s not just one plane, but two Convair 240s, both big birds, settled on the seabed. We really enjoy descending onto these artificial reefs; the way they’ve broken apart over time means there are cool nooks and crannies to poke into, and the light often catches the metal just right, giving the whole scene a ghostly glow. The deeper of the two planes sits at 22 metres, a solid dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts. Around the wings and fuselage, you’ll usually find clouds of snapper and grunt, often so dense they obscure parts of the wreck. We’ve had some fantastic encounters here – a curious nurse shark often pokes its head out from under a wing, and we’ve spotted eagle rays cruising by in the blue a few times. Visibility usually hovers around 18 metres, which is decent enough to appreciate the scale of these sunken giants. For us, this site is a standout for its unique character and the way marine life has truly embraced these old aircraft.
Airplanes (Wreck)
The Cave, just off Little Corn, gives you exactly what the name implies, but in a user-friendly package. We're talking shallow caves and swim-throughs, nothing too demanding, bottoming out around 11 meters. Visibility often sits around 15 meters, making it easy to appreciate the rock formations draped in mustard hill coral. Look for blackfish darting around the crevices, and if you’re lucky, a passing eagle ray might glide by. It’s a nice easy dive, great for knocking off some rust or for anyone keen on poking into shadowy corners without the full overhead environment commitment.
Antilla (Wreck)
Cherry Hill on Grenada’s Southwest Coast is one of those sites we always suggest for a relaxed, shallow dive. It’s not about huge pelagics here; it's about the small stuff, and the light, and just being in the water. We love starting in the super shallow two meters, poking around the Porites corals. You’ll see juvenile fish darting everywhere, and if you take your time, there are often little Chestnut Mussels tucked into crevices. The reef gently slopes to about 10 meters, and that’s where we find the most interesting things. Look for the Dusky Cusk and the Naked Blenny – they're masters of camouflage, so a good eye helps. Our favourite find here is the White Pygmy Venus; it’s tiny, often clinging to the soft corals, a real treat if you spot one. Visibility averages 15 meters, which is plenty for this kind of macro exploration. Cherry Hill suits divers who enjoy a slow pace, photographers looking for interesting small subjects, and anyone who wants to unwind with a truly unhurried dive.
Antilla (Wreck)
The Antilla is a grand dame of a wreck, a German freighter scuttled by her crew in 1940 and now resting on her port side in just 17 meters of water. She’s huge, over 120 metres long, which means you get a real sense of her scale as you descend. What we love about the Antilla isn't just her size, but how approachable she is for divers of all levels; no gnarly currents here, just a gentle sway. We’ve explored her many times, poking into cargo holds where barracuda often lurk, and swimming through the massive open areas that used to be her engine room. Sunlight streams through the openings, illuminating the clouds of silversides that flicker like disco balls. Look closely at the deck fittings and railings – they’re encrusted with orange anemones and tube sponges, a perfect home for lurking lobsters and shy garden eels. Keep an eye out for hawksbill turtles gliding past; we often spot them nosing around the growth. Dive her early in the morning before the crowds, or even better, catch her on a night dive when the real show begins.
Antilla Wreck
The Antilla is pure joy, a proper wreck dive that’s accessible to just about anyone. Dropping down onto that vast, dark hull, you really feel the scale of this thing – 400 feet of history sitting upright on the sand. It’s shallow enough, 18 metres at the deepest, that you get great light penetration, which makes exploring the open cargo holds a real treat. We love swimming through the massive internal spaces, seeing the schools of French grunts and squirrelfish that now call them home. Outside, the superstructure is draped in orange cup corals, and we’ve often spotted hawksbill turtles slowly grazing on the encrusting sponges. It’s also our favourite spot for macro photography, with colourful little tobacco basslets tucked into every crevice and cherub pygmy angelfish flitting around the railings. If you’re into wrecks, this is a fantastic introduction, offering plenty to see without any serious current or depth concerns. Get there early to beat the crowds; it makes a huge difference.
Arashi Reef
Arashi Reef is where we go when we want a proper chill dive, the kind where you barely need to kick. Maxing out at 15 metres, it’s a brilliant spot for beginners or anyone who just wants to soak it all in without worrying about deco. We especially love it for the gentle currents – sometimes almost nonexistent – which makes for fantastic long bottom times. The reef itself is a pretty classic Caribbean scene, lots of brain corals and big gorgonian sea fans swaying with the surge. You’ll spot plenty of spotted goatfish sifting through the sand, and we’ve had some cracking encounters with hawksbill turtles here, just gliding along, completely unfazed by divers. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too, like the cherub pygmy angelfish darting around the coral heads. If you catch it on a calm morning, the visibility is usually excellent, letting you see clear across the reef. It’s a gentle introduction to Aruba’s underwater world, and frankly, a lovely place to just potter about.
Arashi (Wreck)
Chuckles is one of our go-to sites when we’re diving out of Mahé, especially if the weather is a bit squally. It’s a granite boulder field, which means you get these incredible swim-throughs and overhangs. The maximum depth is around 17 metres, making it perfect for a relaxed extended bottom time. We love exploring the nooks and crannies here. You’ll find White Tip Reef Sharks resting on the sand patches, and the resident octopuses are masters of camouflage, always a fun challenge to spot. Look closely, and you might see the small, colourful Rainbowfish flitting about, or a Coral Hawkfish perched on a coral head. The reef itself is a mix of hard and soft corals, with some nice staghorn formations, providing shelter for countless smaller creatures. We often see large schools of Glasseye Snapper here, their eyes catching the light as they move in unison. The current can be changeable, sometimes a gentle drift, other times quite strong, so it’s a site for those comfortable with varied conditions. Your dive operator will likely pick you up wherever you surface, which is always a bonus. For us, Chuckles offers a fantastic opportunity to explore a classic Seychelles granite landscape, full of surprises and plenty of macro life if you take your time.
Arashi (Wreck)
The Arashi wreck is one of our favourite beginner-friendly dives in Aruba. It’s a Lockheed Lodestar, scattered across a 15-meter sandy bottom, and while it might not be a huge intact vessel, its broken sections offer plenty to poke around in. You’ll weave through metal ribs and plating, now encrusted with sponges and soft corals, feeling the gentle surge pull you along. We love seeing the way the reef has completely enveloped parts of the plane. Schools of snapper and grunts hover in the shade of the larger pieces, and we’ve often spotted hawksbill turtles slowly munching on algae near the landing gear. Keep an eye out for the cherub pygmy angelfish flitting in and out of the crevices. The visibility here is usually great, around 18 metres, making it perfect for photographers or anyone wanting a relaxed, shallow wreck dive without the need for advanced skills. It’s a great introduction to wreck diving, letting you get up close without any tight squeeze-throughs.
Aruba
Close Encounters is one of our favourites out of Pemuteran. It’s got this really interesting mix of reef, healthy and sprawling in parts, with a gentle slope that takes you down to around 20 metres. We love it because it’s generally easy diving; you can relax and just soak it all in. You'll see plenty of the usual suspects here, like clown anemonefish tending their homes and big schools of fusiliers shimmering above the coral. Keep an eye out for estuary cod hiding in crevices – they’re surprisingly shy. The site also delivers on the macro front; we've often found nudibranchs inching their way across the reef, and the odd scorpionfish trying its best to blend in. Visibility often sits around 15 metres, which is decent enough for spotting those smaller creatures. Just be aware that currents can pick up, so checking the tides is always a good move. It's a great spot for newer divers looking to build confidence, but also enjoyable for experienced eyes keen on a relaxed dive with good visibility.
Aruba
Aruba, as a dive site, isn't just one spot, it's the whole leeward coast package, and we think it's often overlooked. Forget the usual Caribbean clichés; the wreck diving here is surprisingly good, especially for those who love poking around old metal. We’re talking proper shipwrecks and some interesting artificial reefs, like those sunken airplanes. The maximum depth of 17m keeps things relaxed, perfect for extending your bottom time and really getting to know the wrecks. Our pick for a truly engaging dive is often the Antilla, though the specific site you're asking about, "Aruba," usually refers to the general area's appeal. Imagine gliding over sand flats before a vast, ghostly shape emerges, its structure now softened by sponges and gorgonians. Schools of snapper often drift through the superstructure, and we’ve seen eagle rays cruise past on more than one occasion. You can spend a whole dive just exploring the cargo holds, imagining their past life, while tiny tobacco basslets dart among the coral growth. Visibility averages around 18m, which gives you plenty of scope to appreciate the scale of these wrecks. It’s a great choice if you enjoy exploring history underwater, with plenty of fish life making these wrecks their home.
Barcadera Reef
Barcadera Reef on Aruba’s Leeward Coast is our pick for a really relaxed drift dive. At a maximum depth of 19m, it is super accessible, meaning you can really stretch out your bottom time and soak it all in. We love how the reef here is broken up; you'll drift over stretches of bright white sand, then suddenly find yourself gliding past big, healthy coral formations that rise up like miniature cities. Keep your eyes peeled in those sandy patches, we often spot Bigtooth Cardinalfish tucked away, and the occasional Eyed Flounder perfectly camouflaged. But it’s the drift itself that makes Barcadera special. The current usually pushes you gently along, giving you a smooth ride past schools of Herring and Atlantic Bumper, so dense they sometimes block out the light for a second. It is an ideal spot if you're keen on an easy dive with plenty to see without having to kick too hard. We’d suggest going in the morning before any wind picks up, the visibility is usually at its best then.
Barcadera Reef
Coralie Bay, over on the eastern side of the Great Mercury Islands, is one of those places we often forget about but always remember fondly once we’re there. It's an easy dive, a perfect spot to just chill out and explore without battling any big currents. You drop in and find this classic New Zealand kelp forest, huge fronds swaying back and forth, filtering the sunlight into green shafts. We love drifting through those kelp tunnels; it feels like you're in a secret underwater garden. Look closely among the holdfasts for little blennies and triplefins, often camouflaged so well you'll swim right past them if you're not paying attention. The sandy patches between the rocky reefs are great for spotting rays settled on the bottom, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of an orca cruising through the bay – it’s happened to us a few times. Visibility usually sits around 8 metres, which is decent enough for exploring the reef’s contours and the numerous crayfish hiding in the cracks. It’s a solid pick for divers who want a relaxed experience and a good chance at spotting some larger visitors.
Aruba Leeward Coast Dive Centres
5 dive shops and operators in Aruba Leeward Coast
Ocean Wildlife in Aruba Leeward Coast
82 species recorded in Aruba Leeward Coast
Aruba Leeward Coast Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Aruba Leeward Coast, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:31
Sunset
17:58
Daylight
12h 27m
Golden Hour
17:29
First light (dawn) at 05:09 · Last light (dusk) at 18:19
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:07 | 17:35 | 11h 28m |
| Feb | 06:04 | 17:48 | 11h 44m |
| Mar | 05:50 | 17:52 | 12h 2m |
| Apr | 05:30 | 17:54 | 12h 24m |
| May | 05:18 | 17:59 | 12h 41m |
| JunLongest | 05:17 | 18:08 | 12h 51m |
| Jul | 05:24 | 18:11 | 12h 48m |
| AugNow | 05:30 | 18:03 | 12h 33m |
| Sep | 05:31 | 17:44 | 12h 13m |
| Oct | 05:31 | 17:24 | 11h 52m |
| Nov | 05:39 | 17:13 | 11h 34m |
| DecShortest | 05:54 | 17:19 | 11h 24m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Aruba Leeward Coast.
Where to Stay near Aruba Leeward Coast
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Marine Protected Areas near Aruba Leeward Coast
3 protected areas near Aruba Leeward Coast - please respect local regulations when diving
Oostpunt
Zuidkust
Westpunt
Getting to Aruba Leeward Coast
Oranjestad
Willemstad
Kralendijk
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